Track-scraper for railroads



(No Model.) 2 Sheet sSheet 1. w

H. ,M. LITTELL! TRAU K SCRAPER FOR RAILRUADS.

- No. 376,668. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.-

6 I I u 'Tii l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

HARVEY MITCHELL LITTELL, or sr. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

TRACK-SCRAPER .FOR RAlLRO ADS SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,668, dated January 17, 1 888.

Application filed Febrnary fi, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY MITCHELL LITTELL, of the city of St. Paul, and county of Ramsey, in the State of Minnesota, have in- 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Scrapers for Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention consists of certain improve- IO ments in the construction of the scrapers andof the mechanism which operates the same, and in'various other details of construction,

as will be hereinafter fully set forth. 4 The object of my invention is to provide a 15 scraper and. clearer which shall be self-cleaning, and which shall not only scrapethe track, but which will throw the dirt, gravel, snow, ice, and similar obstructions away from the rails a sufficient distance to clear an ample 2o passage-way for the body or platform of the car to pass over the road and entirely clear the debris which has been deflected from the region of the rails.

Still another object of my invention is to 2 provide a track-scraper whichwillbe automatic in operation and comparativelyfree from liability of becoming broken by any unusually large or rigid obstructions. In effecting this result 1 first employ the surest factor in mechanics, which always acts, and that is gravity. My scraper, then, is virtually a gravity-scraper. To be sure, the scrapers have a shearing action on the top of the rails; but the main factor which causes them to clear 3 the rails is their own gravity. It follows, then, that all that is necessary to raise the scrapers over an ugly or stubborn obstacle is to over come their gravity. Friction is practically avoided from the fact that the scrapers are 0 rigidly secured at the outer free endof a pivoted bar.

The annexed specification, in connection with the accompanying drawings, will fully explain the novel features of my invention.

Like letters of reference on said drawings designate the same parts in different views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car with parts broken away to show my improved scraper. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view of 0 the latch which operatesthe scrapers. Fig. 3

- is a detail view of the separable journalbox.

where the latch is situated.

Serial No. 191,035. (No model.)

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the scraper-lever and scraper. Fig. 5 is a detail of the journal-box in cross-section. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the latch and the platform at the point Fig. 7 is a detail view of the cross-bar. Fig. 8 is adetail view of the detachable shoe. Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in elevation, of the scraper, showing the detachable shoe attached. Fig. 10 is an end view of the detachable shoe. .Fig. 11

is an end view of the scraper, showing the recess in which the detachable shoe is secured.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the scraper and the detachable shoe secured togethen, Fig. 13 is a side viewof the scraper with the detachable shoe removed.

In the drawings, A designates the platform of an ordinary street-railway car, which is secured to the sills and frame of a car in a substantial manner by the supporting bars or beams a a a. This platform is slotted at a, near the center, and a slotted plate, a, is secured to the platform at that point on the top, while a second slotted plate, a, is secured to the platform on the underv or lower side, the

slots in the upper and lower platesregistering with the slot in the platform, thus forming a metal bushing for the slot. 7

' To one end of the slot'in the platform I sef cure a pawl, a. This pawl a has a hooked free end,wliich is adapted to engage a latch,b, I

as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The latch b is provided with projections or lugs b on the side next to the pawl a, and these lugs b are adapted to engage with a recess, a, in: the

lower side of the hooked end of the pawl,while the hooked end of the pawl engages with a similar groove, 1'), near the top of the latch. The main advantage of the lower lug,b, on the latch,or of a means of locking the latch at that elevation, is that this only raises the scrapers about threeinches above the level of the track, and they act as a life-guard at all times, thus removing the body of any person or animal from the track, thereby preventing accident and consequent danger to life and limb- The latch is provided with an enlarged or flattened head, t, which serves as a bearing for thedrivers foot. The lower end of this latch is pivotally secured to the outer free end of a crank or lever arm,B. 'It is obvious that the movement of this latch is thus limited in its vertical movements by the enlarged head and the arm B, while it is free to oscillate in the slot in the platform.

It is noted here that the grooves in the latch might be put in the side and the position of the pawl varied accordingly without departing from the spirit of my invention. If it is desirable to have the scrapers force down hard on the track or rail at any or all times, this can be done by having a second pawl, a, on the opposite end of slot, next the dash of the car, to engage with a lug, b, on the opposite side from thelugs b and 12 which engage with the pawl a; but the lug I) is lower down, so as to confine or keep the scrapers down on the rail; or this may be done by having a hole through treadle or latch b and inserting a pin through treadle or latch immediately on top of the slotted plate.

The lever arm B, which operates the scrapers, is formed integral with the rockshaft 0, or it may be adj nstably secured thereto. The arm B is slotted,aud has one or more perforations at its free end to receive the lower end of the latch. which is also provided with one or more perforations, and the two are there pivoted together in such a manner that a blow against the arm at that point could not hit the latch, as the latter is'protected by the projecting ends of the slotted arm B. The perforations facilitate the adj ustment of the treadle to determine the length of the stroke of the arm B. The rock-shaft O is secured to the under side ofthe platform in the eyebolts or journal-bearings O O; or it may be secured to a sill, which can be bolted to the platform, as seen in Fig. 1. Ordinary journal-boxes might be used if securely fastened to the platform; but it is found that the eyebolt or its equivalent, as shown in the modification, is preferable, as the bolts 0 c are less liable to become displaced, and by forming the lever-arms integral with the rock shaft it is found of great advantage to use the separable journal-bearing.

In the drawings I show the scrapenlevers formed integral with the rock-shaft; but it is quite apparent that'the levers might be keyed on the shaft in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit of my invention. When the rockshaft and lever-arms are all formed together, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, it

will be found necessary to use the separable journal-bearing shown in Fig. 3. To the outer free ends of each of these scraper'levers or rock-shaft I rigidly attach the scrapers F F, and these scrapers are held in position with relation to each other by the brace or cross bar G. This cross-bar has loops S S at each of its ends, which encircle the scraperlevers. Instead of having the simple loops on the ends of the cross bar, I prefer to make it extend down back of the scraper, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus add very materially to the strength of the scrapers and lever-arm. Thus itwill be seen that any slight jar to either scraper is promptly transmitted to the other scraperlever, by reason of the slight movement of which the levers are capable in the cross bar,

and the scraper will spring up alittle and not construction and from the fact that the scraperlevers generally extend diagonally from the rock-shaft it can be easily made to fit any of them.

It may be well to state here that the preferred manner of constructing this cross-bar is to provide it with two loops, S S, of wroughtiron, secured in place by bolts or rivets, and then extending it down back of the scraper;

' but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this construction.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 4 it will be observed that the scrapers are tapering in outline,and'that they are concave-convex in crosssection. This shape admirably adapts them to the use in this connection, as they are heaviest over the rail, where the dirt and ice are likely to be packed or frozen hard to the track, and at the outer free end of the scraper, where there is little or no necessity for extraordinary strength and weight, the scraper is light and elastic, while the convexity of the outside of the scraper imparts a rotary motion to the particles of debris as they are de flected away from the scraper, and by reason of this rotary motion they roll well back from the vicinity of the track.

Along the base of the'scraper it will be observed that I have cut the material away in three distinct ways: First, at the inner lower corner of the scraper and at the point which comes directly in front of the flange of the carwheel,I provide an agitator,e, which is adapted to loosen up any foreign matter from the inside of the head of the rail and from the top of the inside flange'of rail.v

Extending outwardly from the recess 6 at the base of the agitator e, I cut the scraper away in an approximately straight oblique line, forming a straight scraping portion, 9, which extends over the topof the rail, and from the outer terminal of this scraping portion 9, I cut the scraper in an outward and upward curve, h, leaving the scraper light and narrow at the rear.

It will be understood by those familiar with the construction of railroads that the street outside of the rails is generally somewhat higher than the level of the tracks, and the outerend of the scraper is cut away in an oblique line for the purpose of clearing the streetpavement at this point.

It will be observed that I use a scraper which has simply the agitator and a single slanting base, as shown in Fig.1,and that the scraper, in addition to its transverse concavo-convexity, is slightly twisted. When it is found desirable, the lower Wearing surfaces of the scrapers may be made detachable, and these may be readily and easily detached and replaced when worn.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to construct this scraper with a removable shoe, I have illustrated a preferred means of construction, which is clearly shown in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive.

By reference to Fig. ll it will be observed that the scraper F is provided at its lower portion with a recess, T, into which is fitted the detachable shoe U, and the latter is secured in place on the scraper by suitable bolts, 1;.

I show a chain, 6, to which is secured a wedge, j. This wedge is designed to be inserted in the slot in the platform when it is desired to raise the scrapers from the track for anylength of time. Instead of the wedge, I may use a latch, is, as shown in Fig. l. i

The operation is as follows: The latch is thrown forward out of engagement with the pawl and the scrapers fall by their own gravity into position on the track. The cross-bar by its weight tends to hold the scrapers down with sufficient force to dislodge any ordinary obstruction. The agitators on the inside of the rails dig up the dirt and ice, and the forward motion of the scrapers causes them to slide up and out to the surface of the rail, and the rearward diagonal slant of the scraping portion moves them to the outside of the rail and crowds them up and out to thepavement in a light mass, where they are hit by the outer curved end of the scraper and fly off and are scattered from this point into the street.

Should the agitator or anypart of the scraper strike against a large stone or-other heavy obstacle, it will fly up and clear the stone'by reason of its being pivoted a considerable distance to the rear of the point of the support of the scraper-levers.

Should the driver see any obstacle which he thinks the scraper will not readily remove, he has simply to press with his foot on the latch in the slot in the platform,and the downward motion of the crank-arm on the rockshaft will throw the scraper-levers up and the wedged or locked into position by the wedge or its equivalent.

Aside from the general advantages obtainscribing witnesses.

ablefrom the use of my improved scraper,

-I wish to call especial attention to .the fact that the scrapers may be operated instantly and entirely by the drivers foot, thus leaving his hands freefor use in managing his team and to snatch a childor other object from the track; and 'even if he should fail to catch the child or other object in time the scrapers will not fail to do their work, as they will clear the track and serve as a life-guard at all times, whether-hard'down on the rail or when slightly elevated, as when the pawl on the platform engages the lower lug on the latch, all ot which is of great value in this connection.

Having now described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Paten t,1s'

1. In a scraper and clearer, the combination Y of the rock-shaft, the eyebolts or journals, the A levers, and the.scrapers,with the crossbar, which is provided with loops at its ends loosely encircling the scraper-levers,and which extends from one to the other and is free to vibrate therewith, substantiallyvas described.

2. In a scraper and clearer, the rock-shaft and scrapers journaled to the car, in combina- 'tion with the lever-arm which. operates the rock-shaft and the latch which operates said lever-arm, said latch and lever-arm being adjustable at their pivotal point of-connection, I

substantially as set forth.

3. In a scraper and clearer, the rock-shaft I.

and scrapers pivoted to the car,'in combination with the lever-arm provided with a locklng device whereby the scrapers may be instantly dropped and rigidly held down into contact. with the rail at will by the drivers foot, substantially as set forth.

4. In a clearer and having the crooked scraper-levers formed integral therewith, and the crank-lever, B, also formed integral with the rock-shaft and extending forward therefrom, in combination with the scrapers and means for operating the same, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the rock-shaft, the

scraper, the rock-shaft I scraper lever-arms, and the'scrapers, with the A cross-bar having the extensions which extend back with and strengthen the scrapers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two sub- HARVEY MITCHELL LITTELL. Witnesses:

JOHN I. THOMPSON JOHN A. FARNsWoRrH. 

